The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-08-10
Colonel Tom Cch,ltre Tells Judge Clair
"a Story.
IN ~ York Sun.

COlCnel Tom Gen tItree Tells Judge clair
Story.
IN ~ York Sun.
A table separal d Col. Tom Ochletree and
Judge Clair at the Hoffman House re-
Gently. a corpulent bottle stood on the
table which contained poppy juice. The
Colonel looked dreamily out of the win
dow at the stream of people pouring out of
Madison Square Theater. Inside the room
partially intoxicated man was criticislng
Mr.. Bouguareau;s masterpiece, and telling
friend how he would have painted some
of the lines in the famous picture. A few
Generals and Senators were seated about
the room in careless attitudes.
"You seem q little off color tonight
Tom," said the Judge. Take little stun.
ulous"
81 have no taste for the internal stuff to-
night, Judge. The fact is, I'm trife SEN
timental, Let me tell you story"
1.-THE Judge lit his cigar and listened.
''Last Sunday" said the Colonel. "thlngs
were rather dull around the hotel. About
noon 1 took the mess town oar to Grand
street ferry and crossed over to Brooklyn.
Just after l boarded a Nostrand avenue
car laboring man, with his wife and two
children, signalled the conductor. Tom
my the eldest of the children was placed
in the corner Of seat next to me and in a
few minutes we became fast
r lGsnds I Hig cop mas small sb apd
reached only half way to the
floor He wore faded suit of blue flannel
and peakless cap from under the front of
which there lrickled few stands of corn
colored hair. There was deep Dolly Var
den dimple in his chin and a number OF
irregular dents in his cheeks made by
small pox, whose ragged outlines were
softened by faint flush OF health. He
80 ~ AIA L A,I
TO know i'll could get the incurve on a
base bali and whether / ever knocked out
marbles. When 1 told him that the only
gsme I played was with pieces OF card
board on which were painted pictures of
kings and queens, diamonds aud
spades; that clubs were sometimes
used in the game aud that the gamesters
were in the habit of playing tricks on each
other, his blue eyes opened wide, and he
wanted to learn how to play this wonder
full game. He protested when / told him
he wasn't big enough to understand it that
he was 'bigger'n his brother Johnny
1.-THE air OF Brooklyn was quiet and
dreamy that afternoon. The car rolled by
long avenues of archlng trees. A Sabbath
quiet was in the air. The hum of bees and
the sweet smells from the flower gardens
lulled Tommy to sleep. He lurched for
ward several times when the car came to q
sudden stop, and pushed HIM back into
the seat. But there came time when my
attention,was diverted and Tommy rolled
out of the car upon the TX, and one OF
the iron wheels crushed his left leg just
above the ankle.
The was weeping by the women and the
mems faces were pale. Tommy's father
tore off his coat ano vest and tied his sus-
penders around his boys leg above the
| fracture. As was natural under the cir
| cumstances. there was no color left in
| Tommy's cheek, and his face wore an
anxious, troubled look, as If he failed to
realize the extent Of his misfortune. His
| eyes were wide open, but some of the lus-
ter of life had gone out OF them. As he
| lay in his fathers arms, wrapped in his
coat, his little brother tugged at Tommy's
| coat, and called on him to get up; but Tom
| nv only answered with wan smile. Toe
sun shone Just as brightly as before; the
avenues of trees looked just as invitingly
| cool, and happy children on the street
| laughed as gleefully as before. To Tom
| my's mother the landscape wore a funeral
| garb. Every tree was draped in shadows.
and the stain of blood was, on the fences.
In fancy she saw wagon with black
| plumes winding slowly down the road at
tended by decorous coaches.
"'God is good she sobbed, but Tommy
| never did any one HARM
THE men on the back seat threw their
| ClghrS away duu TIC uIlfcA lhouCu LIS
horses into gallop.
| "'Is he hurried much9 said prospect
i've bride to her intended husband.
"'He is that. his leg is mashed
GAN will he die, / dunno?'
"Mebbe he will and mebbe he won't t.
Sure We can't tell till the sawbones gets at
him.
THE car rolled swiftly by an old lady
who waved her umbrella frantically on
1 n
the fathers Jaw and q mute protest on hi
face which relapsed into an expression oil
infinite compassion as Tommy feebly asked
him: Are we nearly homer
"When the father reached home with
his burden and the Tommy had been
made as easy as possible, the doctor wa!
called in. There was a CLEAN OF steel, and
Tommy weighed a few pounds less than
when he started for Coney Island two
hours before. Although the doctor thought
that Tommy was fast losing sight of land
he was even in the Narrows now in the
doctors opinion-he did not go into the
kitchen, from whence there came faint
sobbing, to say so. Tommy's hair was
brushed back from his forehead and the
varnish OF candy washed from his face. II
is questionable whether the boy was any
more picturesque looking for the bath. Al
the twilight came on the next eveninl
Tommy had been swept further out toward
the sea. The tide had evidently been run
ming strong during the night, and thu
| foam.crested waves were leaping huDgrily
toward him. A rosebud lay on his pillow
Perhaps it was the warmth of the room
perhaps Tommy feeble breath helped t.
unfold IL. At least the rose slowly opened
its red heart ana faint perfum
filed the room. Well some tim
during the night Tommy drifted out pas
sandy Hook, ont of sight OF the friendl,
lighthouse, out of sight of land, beyon'
be smell of flowers aud beyond the gaz
of bis mother. Perhaps the tide carries